Instagram tests 'Reels-first' app experience for select users in India
What's the story
Instagram is testing a new 'Reels-first' experience for select users on its mobile app in India. The move is part of Meta's strategy to promote short-form video content on its platform. Under the trial, when users open the app, they will be taken directly to the Reels tab. However, direct messages will still be accessible via the navigation bar, and Stories will continue to show at the top of the screen.
Interface changes
Revamped navigation bar
Along with the Reels-first experience, Instagram is also revamping its navigation bar. The new design will give more importance to Reels and direct messages, which are key drivers of the platform's growth. The changes come as Instagram recently crossed three billion monthly active users, making it the third Meta app after Facebook and WhatsApp to hit this milestone.
Feature update
New 'Following' tab
Instagram is also introducing a new 'Following' tab in its app. The feature will let users browse through posts from accounts they follow. It will have three sections: 'All,' showing recommended posts and Reels from all followed accounts, 'Friends,' highlighting recommended content from mutual friends, and 'Latest,' displaying posts in chronological order with the newest ones first.
Market dominance
Instagram's user base in India
India is the biggest market for Meta's family of apps, with a combined user base of over a billion. Instagram alone has an estimated 400 million users in the country. Notably, more than half of the time spent on Instagram is by users watching videos. The changes to the app are clearly aimed at increasing engagement on the platform. Meta said this experience will mirror Instagram's Reels-first interface on the recently launched iPad app.